After his boss got called out by a rapper for pushing an agenda on kids, a California communications director got caught with his claws out.
Marked as a welcome surprise to many, award-winning rapper Nikki Minaj has recently used her platform to address issues like the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and leftists forcing gender ideology on kids. This evidently struck a nerve on California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team as his director of communications, Izzy Gardon, faced his own backlash for labeling the rapper a “Stupid Hoe.”
In the early morning hours on Saturday, Gardon shared an image of Minaj merchandise in a trash can with the caption, “Stupid Hoe,” that has since gone viral.
Stupid Hoe pic.twitter.com/O3Dg444gWM
— Izzy Gardon (@iGardon) December 13, 2025
Later the same day, he seemed determined to play off the insult as an out-of-context reference to the rapper’s 2011 song of the same name as he took heat, including from a member of the California State Assembly.
California state Rep. Carl DeMaio (R) shared the post with the message, “The white spokesperson Gavin Newsom pays for with your state tax dollars just called a black woman a ‘Stupid Hoe,'” as civil liberties attorney Laura Powell had likewise posted, ‘This guy–who is paid by California taxpayers to troll online on behalf [of] Gavin Newsom–called [Minaj] a name with racist and sexist overtones, then called me a name, and now is wondering why I am lamenting the state of political discourse.”
The white spokesperson Gavin Newsom pays for with your state tax dollars just called a black woman a “Stupid Hoe” pic.twitter.com/Id46lAqzmp
— Carl DeMaio (@carldemaio) December 13, 2025
This guy—who is paid by Californian taxpayers to troll online on behalf Gavin Newsom—called @NICKIMINAJ a name with racist and sexist overtones, then called me a name, and now is wondering why I am lamenting the state of political discourse. pic.twitter.com/epvyZoFeck
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) December 13, 2025
Responding specifically to DeMaio, the first openly homosexual Republican elected to California’s state legislature, Gardon behaved as though repeating the song title negated its function as an insult to the rapper while also taking away from the lawmaker’s sexuality.
“Any certified homosexual would know Stupid Hoe is Nicki Minaj’s best song,” said the Newsom communications director. “We may need to take your gay card away, Carl. Your infractions are becoming insufferable.”
Any certified homosexual would know Stupid Hoe is Nicki Minaj’s best song. We may need to take your gay card away, Carl.
Your infractions are becoming insufferable.
— Izzy Gardon (@iGardon) December 14, 2025
Minaj managed to draw the ire from Sacramento as she both slammed Newsom for his silver spoon upbringing and “running on wanting to see trans kids” while signaling her favor for Vice President J.D. Vance writing, “Nothing brings me joy like the Vance memes & knowing he leaned into it like a boss … Top Tier Comedy … Character = 100 … But make no mistake, Vance is an assassin. Don’t debate him. On anything. Quick as a computer. Maybe quicker. He’s the best blend I’ve ever seen of us&them.”
Emboldened by the backlash while Gardon took his own heat, the rapper fired off another shot at Newsom’s expected White House bid as she posted, “They’re ready to make a career politician with everything to lose throw it all away–just like they did to everyone else before him– just to go against me. What’s wild is that he can’t see how this will end. I must be a pretty powerful gal. Praise God. It is well.”
They’re ready to make a career politician with everything to lose throw it all away—just like they did to everyone else before him—just to go against me.
What’s wild is that he can’t see how this will end.
I must be a pretty powerful gal.
Praise God.
It is well.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) December 13, 2025
Nice attempt at back peddling. You’re done bro.
— Sfvic (@sanfranvic1) December 14, 2025
Shirt in a garbage can with a title like that? Nope. This isn’t about a song, we all know what you meant. Don’t try to gaslight.
— Murphy O’Meyer. (@fj62cruisergirl) December 14, 2025
Wait… So Gavin’s office is now deciding who is a proper gay and who is not.. ? This sounds bigoted af ngl.
— zdr (@zdr_0x) December 14, 2025
— Make L.A. Great Again 🇺🇸 (@lalovestrump) December 14, 2025
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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